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‘Who checks the buffoonery of Ghana’s Parliament?’
Wikipedia defines ‘buffoonery’ as a behaviour that is ridiculous but amusing.
Synonyms for ‘buffoonery’ include rowdiness, roughhouse, trickery, gamboling and mischief.
Thesaurus also says ‘ridiculous’ means; deserving or inviting derision or mockery.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, synonyms for ‘ridiculous’ include; irrational, illogical, outrageous, shocking, unbelievable and unthinkable.
• Mr. Haruna Iddrisu,
Minority Leader
• Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu,
Majority Leader
Just recently, that is, before the eve of the 2021 Christmas, Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board was reportedly airlifted to Dubai to hold their board meeting with the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament because the Speaker was receiving medical care in Dubai.
Reportedly, members of the Parliamentary Service Board were airlifted back into Ghana at the expense of the Republic of Ghana.
So, in effect, their plane tickets, the hotel bills, ‘the per diems’ and ‘the boarding and lounging’ were all reportedly paid by the Government of the Republic of Ghana.
Media reports indicated that the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was also in Dubai receiving medical attention, together with the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, thus, probably influencing Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board meeting to be held in Dubai at the expense of the poor Ghanaian tax payer.
But the question is: Is it very true that members of Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board left the beautiful shores of the Republic of Ghana to hold its board meeting in Dubai?
Indeed, Ghana’s Parliamentary Service ought to issue a convincing statement clarifying the alleged Dubai Parliamentary Board meeting since the image of Parliament in respect of the alleged Dubai meeting is gradually but steadily , ‘getting close’ to the proverbial ‘Lavender Hill.’
Really, media reports have wrapped the image of Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board into the ‘septic containers’, illegally queuing to off-load their ‘nose- breaking’ contents onto the ‘notorious’ ‘Lavender Hill.’
Readers, for now , I will not go into the ‘prognostics’ of the ‘Lavender Hill ‘ ‘palava’ and its ‘corrosive’ and ‘debilitating’ impact on its environment.
But the fact of the matter is that if an image is ‘buried’ in the bowels of ‘Lavender Hill’ in Ghana; it does not only speak ‘negative’ volumes about that image, but also ‘negative’ tonnes and tonnes of that image.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, however, asks this fundamental question: “If the board meeting couldn’t wait for the return of the Speaker and the Majority Leader from Dubai; because urgent matters had to be discussed, couldn’t the board meeting have been organised virtually, so that other members could participate from Ghana?”
He further queries:”It would be most disconcerting if it emerges that truly, there was no virtual component to this board meeting.”
The North Tongu Member of Parliament ‘fires on all cylinders’. He says:” We must admit that as an arm of government responsible for financial oversight, especially over the Executive, this doesn’t look great if confirmed, more so, when Parliament has been trying with much difficulty, in recent times to rein in an unhinged profligate Executive.”
Another critic of the government, veteran journalist Mr Kwesi Pratt, also says:”It is of great concern that , for Ghanaians appointed to serve the nation , they would fly all the way to Dubai just for a meeting about Ghana.”
According to hin, “even if it was a training programme that the board had gone for in Dubai, not for merely a meeting; does it explain anything that a training for the Parliamentary Service Board is done in Dubai?
“If the meeting was done at Abokobi, won’t it have been successful?”
Readers, it must be emphasised that media reports about the alleged Parliamentary Service Board meeting in Dubai cast a ‘huge slur’ on the already tattered image of Parliament.
Some critics say:”If parliamentarians are not misconducting themselves on the floor of Parliament; by trading blows; disfiguring the faces of their opponents with knives and razor blades; then they are stealing our money, via their huge salaries and their ex-gratia.”
Others also claim that:”Parliament has taken Ghanaians for granted, so they spend the nation’s money without thinking properly,” contending that, “look at how the ‘double-salary issue in Parliament’ was handled harphazardly by the state.
“And with many good companies into carpentry in Ghana, Parliament at a time in its life had to rush to China to import tables and chairs for use in that ‘August House’. Oh! mother Ghana!!!
“And now, look at a mere meeting of the Parliamentary Service Board taken out of the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana in the unholy name of profligacy.”
Others also ask in ‘loud silence’: “Who checks the ‘buffoonery’ of Ghana’s Parliament?”
Contact email/WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
ALL these forms of responsibility are sustained by one central pillar: spiritual and moral discipline. Without it, knowledge becomes pride, power becomes oppression, and freedom becomes chaos.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The strong man is not the one who overcomes others by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari, Hadith 6114)
This control taqwā is the root of responsibility. Imam Al-Ghazali (1105) in Ihya Ulum al-Din wrote that the purification of the soul (tazkiyah al-nafs) is the foundation of all reform. A responsible man disciplines his desires, guards his words, and acts with sincerity, even when no one is watching.
We live in an era of temptation — social media, materialism, and moral relativism challenge our values. But men of faith must rise above these influences and remember that Allah is Al-Raqīb — the Ever-Watchful. Spiritual accountability anchors moral behaviour.
8. Emotional and psychological responsibility
Responsibility also includes taking care of one’s mental and emotional well-being. Many men suffer silently under the burden of expectation — believing that showing emotion is weakness.
Yet, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم shed tears, expressed compassion, and sought counsel.
Psychologist Aaron Beck (1976) in Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders emphasised that emotional maturity begins with self-awareness, recognising one’s feelings, and managing them constructively.
Group counselling sessions like this are essential; they help men share, heal, and grow together. No man should walk alone; strength is not isolation, but the courage to seek support. Let us normalise counselling, mentorship, and brotherhood among men. For in unity, we find healing; in shared wisdom, we find growth.
9. The five questions of accountability
The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The feet of the son of Adam shall not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about five things:
- His life — how he lived it;
- His youth — how he used it;
- His wealth — how he earned it and how he spent it;
- His knowledge — how he acted upon it.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2416; also reported in al-Darimi)
This hadith captures the essence of personal accountability — the cornerstone of responsibility in Islam. It reminds every believer that every blessing carries a duty, and every stage of life demands conscious action.
Let’s break it down:
- “His life — how he lived it”
Life is a divine trust (amānah). A responsible man lives with purpose, not pleasure as his goal. He invests his time in doing good, serving others, and seeking Allah’s pleasure. - “His youth — how he used it”
Youth is the most energetic and creative phase — and thus the most accountable. As Ibn al-Qayyim noted in Madarij al-Salikin, “The strength of youth is a blessing, and blessings invite responsibility.” Men must use their youth to build character, gain knowledge, and resist destructive habits. - “His wealth — how he earned it and how he spent it”
Financial integrity is a key part of manhood. Islam demands transparency, fairness, and generosity. The Qur’an warns against wastefulness: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Qur’an 17:27) A responsible man earns lawfully, gives in charity, and spends wisely. - “His knowledge — how he acted upon it”
Knowledge is meaningless if not practiced. Imam Al-Ghazali wrote that knowledge without action is a burden, not a blessing. A responsible man translates his learning into character, leadership, and service.
This Hadith teaches that responsibility in Islam is total and it covers time, energy, wealth, and knowledge. It’s not only about what we achieve, but how we live, how we give, and how we grow.
10. Summary
Responsibility, therefore, is not a single act but a lifestyle — one that touches every sphere of life:
- Educational responsibility empowers us to think and serve.
- Marital and family responsibility keeps our homes strong.
- Environmental responsibility safeguards our future.
- Civic responsibility builds our nation.
- Moral and spiritual responsibility sustains our integrity.
- Emotional responsibility maintains our well-being.
A responsible man is thus an educated mind, a loving heart, a disciplined spirit, and a servant leader. He is not perfect, but he is purposeful.
11. Conclusion
My brothers, as we look toward the future, let us remember the divine reminder:
“The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.” (Qur’an 9:71)
Our communities are counting on us — our sisters, mothers, and children look to us for leadership and example. Let us not disappoint them. When we build responsible men today, we build a Ghana that is peaceful, prosperous, and principled.
Let us be men of knowledge and humility, strength and compassion, faith and fairness. And may Allah grant us the wisdom to lead ourselves before we lead others. Āmīn.
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone Katmanso Municipal Chief Imam, governance expert and certified counselor.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
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Today, I focus on Ghanaian/African migrants in Finland and their mental health. Mental health is an important subject and a huge problem in the world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), brain health is the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realise their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.
Studies have shown that maternal and paternal distress are associated with reduced linear growth of their children. I recently participated in a seminar on mental health among (African) migrants in Finland. We all wondered about the prevalence or incidence of mental illness among migrants in Finland. It will be interesting to know the statistics about mental illness among migrants in Finland.
Mental health in Finland
In Finland, studies have examined how behavioural risk factors mediate the effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress. A correlation is shown between parent and infant psychotherapy on maternal mental health and psychological functioning and children’s welfare.
There are also research and other reports of social child welfare interventions where at times children are even taken away (child removals) from the parent or parents for safe keeping.
Experts say it is important how parents plan their leaves in order to renew or rebuild their mental strength to be able to take good care of their kids.
Anyway, studies are limited about parent-child psychological distress and situations where children are taken away from their parents among minorities, such as African migrants. It will be interesting to know the figures and other aspects of mental health issues among the migrant group(s) in Finland.
Health and migrant vulnerability
Health experts point out that migrant communities can be highly vulnerable to diseases, especially certain infectious diseases. Experts say those who came to Finland as refugees or asylum seekers and their family members are often in a more vulnerable position in terms of their health (see www.thl.fi).
Research and media reports have shown in many countries that there are structural or societal/cultural factors that result in quite high rates of infection or ill-health among migrants, when compared to the majority population.
It is suggested that for example language barrier, lack of information, the nature of the work of migrants in professions where working from home is not possible (for example during the Covid-19 pandemic), not accessing healthcare, etc. can present some of the factors for migrants’ vulnerability to diseases and infections.
Childhood disadvantage
Information about the issue. Such a situation was much evidenced to reduce stress and anxiety during the coronavirus situation.
Thus, these associations and institutions become networks that create an important social capital as well as outlets for sharing and gaining information or knowledge.
Finland is committed to the integration of migrants into the Finnish society, as I keep pointing out. A number of research studies from surveys and other in-depth enquiries have shown a trend of increasing efforts to integrate African and other migrants into the Finnish society.
As the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has pointed out, health and wellbeing are an important part of integration of immigrants in Finland (see www.thl.fi).
There have been studies on whether behavioural risk factors mediate the effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress and child welfare intervention by social services. Unhealthy behaviours and their associations with subsequent sickness among Finnish young and early midlife employees have been studied.
When it comes to this subject and/or the effect of adult psychological distress on children’s wellbeing among African migrants in Finland, there is limited knowledge.
We should hope for more information to augment understandings about adult psychological distress and effect on children’s wellbeing among African migrants in order to inform policy directions.
Such studies will help to create awareness among migrants in Finland about their mental health, its effect on them and their children’s wellbeing, as well as where to seek therapy.
Migrant associations, social networks, and information
Migrants associations are already doing much to help in education on mental health and have become important points for securing. Public agencies, migrant associations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Finland have been publishing information to help educate people about their health and wellbeing.
Generally, migrant associations formally create awareness among their members and other migrants usually in collaboration with some Finnish institutions, and are thus an important tool for several migrants to be positively active and to get their interests and claims heard.
As I wrote previously, the role of migrant associations acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
By Perpetual Crentsil
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